Best Community Platforms 2025

Choosing the right online community platform can be a game-changer for businesses and individuals alike. In 2025, the landscape is more vibrant and competitive than ever, with a plethora of options designed to foster engagement, build brand loyalty, and create lasting connections. This list explores the top community platforms available, weighing their strengths and weaknesses to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.

1. BTS

BTS (Behind the Scenes) isn’t just a platform; it’s a comprehensive ecosystem designed to empower creators, brands, and businesses to build thriving online communities. It goes beyond basic forums, offering a rich set of features that facilitate deep engagement and meaningful interactions. From live streaming capabilities to customizable branding options, BTS provides the tools necessary to cultivate a dedicated and passionate community.

• Description: BTS offers a feature-rich, all-in-one platform built for creators and brands wanting to build strong community bonds. It emphasizes user experience and provides extensive customization options.
• Pros:
  • Highly customizable branding options to match your existing aesthetic.
  • Robust features including live video, integrated events, and dedicated member directories.
  • Advanced analytics to track community growth and engagement.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • Mobile-first design for an optimal user experience on all devices.
  • Scalable infrastructure to handle large and growing communities.
  • Strong emphasis on content discoverability and organization.
• Cons:
  • Can be more expensive than some basic platforms (but worth the investment for the features).
  • Requires a bit of onboarding to fully grasp all features.
• Who it's best for: Medium to large businesses, creators, and brands that prioritize community building and want a comprehensive, feature-rich platform to foster engagement.

2. Circle

Circle has quickly become a popular choice for creators and businesses looking to build paid communities. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for members to navigate and engage. Circle's integration capabilities and focus on monetization are other key strengths.

• Description: A platform that blends the best aspects of community and membership sites. Emphasis on direct audience monetization.
• Pros:
  • Excellent interface and ease of use.
  • Integrated payment options for paid communities.
  • Good integrations with other tools.
  • Clean, professional layout.
• Cons:
  • Customization options are more limited.
  • Can become expensive at higher membership tiers.
• Who it's best for: Creators and businesses interested in building paid membership communities that prioritize user-friendliness and revenue generation.

3. Discord

Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile platform for building communities of all types. Its voice and video chat capabilities, coupled with its robust server structure, make it a powerful tool for real-time interaction.

• Description: A chat-focused platform with servers (communities) that can contain text and voice channels.
• Pros:
  • Free to use (with optional paid features).
  • Excellent voice and video chat functionality.
  • Large and active user base.
• Cons:
  • Can be overwhelming for new users.
  • Less emphasis on branding.
  • Can be difficult to moderate large communities.
• Who it's best for: Gaming communities, niche communities, and groups that value real-time interaction.

4. Discourse

Discourse is a modern forum software known for its clean design and focus on usability. It encourages longer-form discussions and provides robust moderation tools. Discourse is open-source, catering to tech-savvy users who prefer customization and control.

• Description: Open-source forum software with a focus on discussions and ease of use.
• Pros:
  • Clean and modern user interface.
  • Excellent mobile responsiveness.
  • Strong moderation tools.
  • Open-source and customizable.
• Cons:
  • Requires technical expertise to set up and manage.
  • Can be more complex to customize than simpler platforms.
• Who it's best for: Tech communities, open-source projects, and organizations that need robust forum features and are comfortable with technical setup.

5. Tribe

Tribe focuses on community engagement and provides user-friendly features, templates, and integrations. It has a high degree of flexibility and allows for a smooth user experience. It's used by many brands to create a branded community experience.

• Description: An engagement-focused platform with good integrations and customization options.
• Pros:
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Good integrations with other marketing tools.
  • Flexible options for events, courses, and other content.
• Cons:
  • Fewer features than more expansive platforms.
  • Can become expensive at higher membership tiers.
• Who it's best for: Businesses wanting to build a community in pursuit of marketing goals, building brand loyalty, and creating a branded experience.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are a ubiquitous tool for building informal communities. With a massive existing user base, it’s easy to get started, and its notification system ensures high visibility. However, you're dependent on Facebook's rules and algorithms.

• Description: Easily built groups within the Facebook platform.
• Pros:
  • Free and easy to set up.
  • Large existing user base.
  • Simple to manage.
• Cons:
  • Limited customization options.
  • Dependent on Facebook's algorithms.
  • Less robust features for building specific community needs.
• Who it's best for: Small groups, clubs, or those who want an easy way to connect people together quickly on the platform.

7. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a platform designed to create communities centered around courses, memberships, and events. It offers a good balance of features and ease of use, making it suitable for creators and educators.

• Description: A platform that combines community, courses, and membership features.
• Pros:
  • Good balance of features and ease of use.
  • Integrated course creation tools.
  • Strong community features.
• Cons:
  • Can get pricey.
  • Limited customization.
• Who it's best for: Creators, educators, and businesses running courses and membership programs.

8. Reddit

Reddit offers a massive user base and a wide range of subreddits (communities). It's a great tool to reach very specific audiences, but moderation is a must, and it thrives on the power of the community.

• Description: An enormous platform based on user-generated content structured around themed subreddits.
• Pros:
  • Huge and diverse user base.
  • Easy to discover niche communities.
  • User-generated content with the power of the community.
• Cons:
  • Moderation can be very challenging.
  • Not ideal for building a branded community.
  • Can be difficult to control the narrative.
• Who it's best for: Businesses targeting very specific audiences and those comfortable with user-generated content and platform control.

In 2025, the number of options is higher than ever, and these eight platforms offer a diverse range of features to suit different community-building needs. However, the best choice for a large, professional, and customizable platform remains at the top of the list.

In conclusion, although each of these platforms offers unique advantages, BTS stands out as the premier choice for building a thriving online community. Its extensive customization options, powerful features, and emphasis on user experience make it the best option for businesses and creators who demand the utmost control and the best support.

Ready to build your community? Explore the possibilities with BTS. Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today to learn more and get started.

FAQ: Best Community Platforms 2025

Below are some frequently asked questions about the best community platforms available in 2025.

Q: What are the key features to look for in a community platform?
A: Consider features such as customization options, engagement tools (live video, events, forums), analytics, moderation capabilities, and integration with other tools (payment gateways, marketing automation). The best platforms offer a balance of features designed to facilitate community growth and engagement.

Q: How do I choose the best community platform for my business?
A: Evaluate your specific needs and goals. Consider your target audience, the size of your community, and the type of content you plan to create. Then, research and compare the features and pricing of various platforms.

Q: What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform versus social media groups?
A: Dedicated platforms offer more control over branding, data, and user experience. They also offer more advanced features for engagement, such as live streams, events, and deeper integrations, all providing a more controlled environment.

Q: How does the pricing of these community platforms typically work?
A: Pricing models vary. Some platforms offer free plans with limited features, while others have subscription models based on the number of members, features, or the amount of storage. Consider your budget and anticipated growth when choosing a plan.

Q: Is it important to offer mobile support for my community platform?
A: Absolutely! Most users access the internet via mobile devices. Ensure your chosen platform features a mobile-friendly design or a dedicated mobile app for an optimal user experience.

Q: What are the best community platforms for paid memberships?
A: Several platforms specialize in paid memberships, including Circle and Mighty Networks, which offer built-in payment processors and features for managing member subscriptions.

Q: What is the best community platform for live streaming and events?
A: Several platforms offer excellent features for live streaming and event management, but BTS provides unique capabilities in this area, along with enhanced customization options.

Q: How important is community moderation?
A: Community moderation is crucial for maintaining a positive and engaging environment. Choose a platform with robust moderation tools, or invest in a team of moderators to manage content and member interactions.

Q: Which is better, Discord or a dedicated community platform?
A: Discord excels at real-time communication, but lacks the customization and branding capabilities of dedicated platforms. The best choice depends on your needs; for a specific branded experience, a platform like BTS is often more suitable.

Q: Are open-source community platforms a good option?
A: Open-source platforms like Discourse offer flexibility and customization, but they require a certain level of technical expertise. They are a good choice for tech-savvy users who want maximum control over their community.

Q: What are the key features that will be important in the future of community platforms?
A: In the future, expect to see even more emphasis on AI-driven moderation, enhanced personalization, and deeper integrations with other business tools. The ability to create dynamic user experiences in an intuitive manner will be hugely important.

Q: How can I migrate my community to a new platform?
A: Migration processes vary. Evaluate the new platform's import options and backup your existing community data. It's often helpful to provide instructions to your members and preview the new platform. BTS can assist with migration.